The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State on Friday honoured Chief James Augoye following his re-appointment as the State Commissioner for Works by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Augoye was honoured at a grand reception organized by the Ward 10 chapter of the PDP in Jeddo, Okpe Local Government Area of the State.
Augoye, who was presented with a plaque for excellent service to the State, appreciated the organizers of the event, and vowed that by the grace of God, he won’t disappoint the trust reposed on him by Deltans, and Okpes in particular.
“By the grace of God, I will not disappoint. This is the beginning and we will not disappoint. I am a human being. I may not be right at all times. As we progress in our political journey, so many things are going to happen. I am yet to be satisfied with what I am doing because I believe there are so many things yet undone,” he said.
Augoye, who was visibly elated by the occasion, was full of praise for Governor Okowa for believing in him; and he thanked the Chairman of the Delta State Advisory and Peace Building Council, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, who was present at the occasion, for standing as a father to him, stressing that Oyovbaire brought him to the limelight.
Speaking at the grand reception, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, who graced the event, charged Augoye to shun ethnic biase in implementing projects across the State.
“I am not someone who holds back criticism when someone is not performing right, neither am I someone who withhold commendation when someone is doing right.
“The Commissioner for Works is doing well. He should do more to make sure that development is evenly distributed across the State,” Oborevwori said, while congratulating Augoye for his re-appointment at the occasion.
Meanwhile, chairman of the occasion, Chief (Barr.) Isaac Itebu congratulated Governor Okowa, Speaker Oborevwori and Efe Afe, member representing Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie constituency in the House of Representatives for their victories at the tribunal, and also commended the Governor for the various appointments flowing into Okpe.
Itebu appreciated the chairman and members of PDP Ward 10 for putting the event together to honour one of their own, and emphasized the need for those who have been appointed to one office or the other to appoint one or two persons and place them on salary in order to ease tension in the polity.
He appealed to the youths of Delta State to be patient with government and be consistent with whatever endeavours they are involved in, stressing that the emergence of Augoye as Commissioner for Works for the second tenure of Governor Okowa was due to his excellent performance.
“One you recognize excellence and performance, it encourages someone to do more. We are expecting more appointments. Those who have been appointed should appoint others and place them on salary to ease tension in the polity,” Chief Itebu said, while stressing that those who have been appointed it’s not because they worked more than others but by the grace of God.
Chief Itebu charged that the issue of Okpe identity be laid to rest, saying he agrees it is the turn of Delta central to produce the next governor of Delta State comes 2023.
“It is the turn of Okpe, Sapele and Uvwie to produce the next governor of Delta State. By the special grace of God, we will produce the next governor,” he said.
Chief Robert Onome, President, Okpe Union Worldwide, and Duke of Esezi Quarters of Okpe Kingdom, who also addressed the audience, thanked God Almighty for making the day possible, saying “since 1998, we have been the main pillars of PDP in Okpe LGA” while describing Augoye as an embodiment of humility.
Also in attendance at the grand reception are Efe Uko, Okpe PDP Chairman, Chief Dora Sakpaide, Special Assistant to the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Joyce Overah, Solomon Bayagbon, the Chairman of Jeddo Community, and Rt. Hon. Benson Umukoro, amongst other dignitaries.